As a poster on DR1 for over 6 years, I can say I have found it to be addictive, informative, helpful, & at times ...... Bl^^*y Frustrating!!! Some of the infighting leaves me cold & some posters I find very infuriating by their lack of respect for other peoples views!
On the negative side, I find the community spirit it used to have some 3-4 years ago has depreciated somewhat & I would like to see that return. Just a SMALL example of this is that just last year we had someone responsible (or posters who took the responsibility upon themselves) to check birthdays each & every day & then enter a quick post of congratulations. Chirimoya, a long serving poster & news writer for DR1, has a birthday today & nobody recognised that until late afternoon when she reminded me by PM & I made the post. Since then, just 6 people have been in & most of the "long serving" contributors & fellow moderators did not acknowledge it at all. As I say, a small point but one that really helps to build the community spirit if handled right!!
As Rob would expect of me, I am also concerned at the level of censorship on the board & would welcome a reduction in this area. Personal attacks? .... Yes edit or cut them - ALL in favour of that as these have NO place on a community board. Similarly, foul & abusive language should be moderated & edited where deemed necessary, but serious questions, a desire for clarification, a well presented & serious view which differs from the accepted view of the board administrators SHOULD be allowed to remain as a topic & NOT be 'Closed/Deleted' until the thread starts to get abusive or intolerant. Censorship has been a thorny subject on this site for many a year & I don't expect it to get sorted overnight, but I DO feel a bit more freedom for 'considered' & 'articulate' speech should be given.
My final point is that I feel the "WARNINGS" box to be an absolute time waster. I will write what I feel like writing on this board FULLY expecting to have my knuckles rapped if I overstep the accepted views of the other posters - NOT the management team. IF HB, CC, Chirmoya, PIB, Anna C plus the others I have learned to respect over the years, wish to challenge me on something I have written, I will listen & agree, disagree, enter into debate with or retract as I think is appropriate. Hopefully, we can always remain friends at the end of any such disagreement. Warning points have absolutely NO fear for me & I consider them to be an insult because they insinuate that I am a child unable to be controlled by reasoned arguement/verbal reprimand (off board is preferable for this). I hope many of you agree with me on this point, but if not, ..... no worry, it is MY view!
I LIKE DR1, that is why I still post here. DR1 is part of my life & I have many friends here. But unlike some, it is not my WHOLE life in that I have many other interests. I feel I still have something to contribute to this board & will continue to do so until I am removed or find my frustrations overrunning into my other interests.
Thanks for all the hard work administrators/management team, but please listen to some of my comments here & take the action that will help us grow even more healthy. ~ Grahame.